Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-01-26
THE COMMITTEES.
""a' was Done At Yesterday's Meeting.
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE


a. z,oo Mthe committee took up the much
talked about questions of abolishiug the
trustee process and Imprisonment for debt.
al Ihe nour the committee room was crowded
WIN INDIVIDUALS Interested in these matters
anu the utmost interest was manifested.
Mr. y. w. Sims of the Granite Assembly
Hallowell, introduced the committee fror,
the District Convention in session at X. of
l.. Hall, and expressed his sentiments in
favor of abolition.
Mr.. Charles A. Halliday, Lewiston, of the
committee, spoke briefly, stating that it was
III the interest of humanity that man should
not oe imprisoned for debt; that after he was
placed behind the bars he had no opportunity
to pay his debts
John Ross, Esq, of Bddeford, was the
next speaker and he opposed the repeal of
the law. He cited the numerous provisions
TOT the relief OF the poor debtor and did not
think imprisonment for debt was a relic Of
oarbarlsm. During five years practice in
which he had made some 1900 collections,
OIL twice had he jailed man for debt
Mr. W. ID. Holmes of Augusta, favored the
ABOLITION OF imprisonment for debt and thought
II was machine to grind out rogues. He
noPeu the committee would stand by the
people.
j. G. Buzzell of Portland, another member
of the X. of L. committee. spoke. n. be-
lleved Imprisonment for debt was the worst
rene OF 0arbarlsm and an imposition on the
working people. There were only three
States IN the Union which had not abolished
Imprisonment tor debt. Mr.. Buzzell read an
abstract from speech delivered by Mr.
Eaton OF Camden in the Hail OF Representa-
tlves IN 1881. He represented some 20 900
workingmen.
At the request of Mr.. Sims Judge Andrews
spoke. He thought it was an imputation
upon the intelligence of the labofing men of
this State, who were represented in this city
by convention of the X. of L to say that
they did not want the law. He pronounced
emphatically against the trustee process and
imprisonment. There were thousands of la
boring men and women in the country who
never saw their wages, the merchants or
tradesmen taking them from the employer.
1t was destructive of manhood and woman
hood. The Judge said he spoke at the risk
of being called demagogue.
Mr.. Noble wanted to see the poor honest
workingman protected from the preying of a
certain class of lawyers of the State. We
are here to legislate for the honest poor, and
he believed a majority of the committee
would stand by them
Mr.. A. c. Otis of Augusta held that the
abolition of the trustee process and impris-
onment for debt would only operate to de-
stroy the credit system, to the injury of the
workingman. He did not think the govern
ment should be allowed to arrest man for a
poll tax while private individual had no
such recourse. There was quite a breeze
when Mr.. OTIS Mr.. Noble and others entered
into warm dis ~usson over the matter.
Mr. John FRYE of Springvale, of the COM
m tha lo,y oh bod hat
worklngmen should not contract debts.
A gentleman present questioned Mr.. Otis
knowledge of the wants of the workingmen.
Mr. Otis said he had done as much work
as one of the gentlemen before him, digging
potatoes, moving grass, etc.
Mr.. FRYE said his business was throwing
brick, and believed Mr.. Otis was honest in
his opinions
Mr.. VIM. H. Libbey of Augusta was very
emphatic in his condemnation of the move
ment to abolish the laws in question, aud
characterized ii as demagoguery.
Matters were rather exciting when Messrs.
Libbey and Holmes made several personal
illusions which were not couched in very
mild terms.
Mr. Clay of Gardiner asked what would be
done if the laws were not repealed
In reply, Mr.. Sims said the laboring men
repeal and allow them to stay at home the
next election.
Mr.. Otis regarded this statement as a threat
to the committee and very unfair
Among the other gentlemen who favored
adjustment were Geo. Kinmond, Saccarap-
pa, of the X. of l.. committee, and Mr.. Il. &.
McCausland, Master Workman of Granite
Assembly, Hallowell
No conclusion was reached by the COM
mittee. All were in favor cf taking some
action touching a change in the law. Sew
eral would go even further than asked, SO a
member informs
EDUCATION.
Maj. E. Rowell, Judge H. X. Baker and
Mrs. l.. NJ. N. Stevens appeared before the
committee in behalf of the Hsllowell Indus
trial School. An appropriation of $4,000 per
year was asked for and $1,000 to build out
buildings, etc. Nelson Ham, Lewiston;
Prof A, F. Richardson, Fryeburg; Senator
Daggett; |. n. Wadsw orth, Manchester; Ira
ID. Sturgis, Augusta; DIR. Chas. Russell,
Fayette; Mr.. Kicker of WATERFORD; Mr..
Lufkin of Orrington, came before the com
mittee in favor of the abolition Of the district
system of schools and MIR. Thurlow, Deer
Isle and Mr. Fisher, Lubec, against The
bill will probably be favored by the commit
tee in new draft. Senator Lbbey addressed
the committee in favor of more efficient
and economical supervision of the schools.
Tabled. The compulsory attendance bill
was under consideration and tabled. A del
egation from the committee will shortly visit
the Gorbam Normal School.
RAILROADS.
The committee on railroads az their meet
ing last evening heard the railroad commits
sioners relative to suggestions in their re-
port The commissioners believe that a
change in the law should be made obliging
railroad companies to erect and maintain
safety switches; that the commissioners
should be given the power to change cross
ings. The commissioners do not view with
favor the law which if an accident to pas
senger occurs town is applied to and q
coroner called in while when there is an ac-
cident to a train the services of the commits
sioners are required They think there
should be one tribunal.
INTERIOR WATERS.
The Committee on Interior Waters devoted
the larger portion of yesterday afternoon and
evening to a hearing on the petition to pre-
vent the throwing of sawdust into Damaris-
Gotta bay and river. w. II. Hilton, Esq, of
Damariscotta opened for the petitioners, and
l.. C. Cornish, Esq, of Augusta for the Dia-
mond Match Co., opposed. 1t was claimed
bv the petitioners that the sawdust materially
Injured the fisheries. while the opposition